“Jesus loves me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so.”
In this third session on “how to study the Bible”, we’re looking for the story of people: the people of God.
- Are the people of God something from the past, long ago in a dry and dusty land?
- Or are the people of God alive today?
- Do the people of God live in Slaithwaite or in Marsden?
- Neither?
- Both?
What makes someone a “person” of God? Is a person of God a holier-than-thou type? How did Jesus react to the holy people 2000 years ago? Who were the people Jesus invited to follow him? Who did Jesus consider “people of God”?
If the Bible contains the stories of the lives of the people of God, and if we are also the people of God, then perhaps we will find echoes of our own lives in the Bible stories we read. Maybe we can learn something from them? Today’s method of studying the Bible builds on the Lectio Divina we did two weeks ago – but with a different emphasis: people.
Finding myself in the Bible
Sunday’s Bible Reading: The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (NRSV)
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
NRSV
Exercise:
- Pray
- Listen to the reading. How many people are there? Can we name them together?
- Now that we have a list of people… listen again. Which person feels most like you?
- Lectio Divina – we will listen to the reading three more times, read in different voices… as we listen, reflect on the experience of this reading from the perspective of the person you feel most like. Does this encourage you, or make you feel unhappy? Why? If you feel yourself changing your mind, and seeing it from a different perspective, then please make that change – but ask yourself why. Do you feel better after the change?
- Close in prayer
What you learned may be a gift from God, and it may be for you alone. We read that Mary often treasured things in her heart – if you have a gift from God it may be for you to treasure.